Five Key Strategies to Defending Israel

I’m just back from a speaking tour in Europe, where I was confronted with the challenge of justifying Israel’s actions on the Gaza border and even the country’s very legitimacy as a nation among nations.

The deep “psychological asymmetry” (as Dr. Irwin Mansdorf calls it) employed by Hamas and Fatah as a strategic weapon against Israel – is working. The Palestinians exploit civilians in order to meet strategic goals, by placing them in danger or condemning them to unending refugee life.

The ensuing misery gnaws away at the conscience of well-meaning and naïve observers around the world, and they find it hard to justify the “imbalance” in suffering between the Palestinians and Israel. The soft bigotry of low expectations (by Europeans of the Palestinians) excuses PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Izzadin Kassam Brigades leader Yahya Sinwar of any responsibility for their people’s predicament.

Then there is the radical progressivism that has captured much of mainstream political discourse in the West. This makes liberal people uncomfortable with the use of force by nation-states in almost all cases.

Israel’s “over-dog” position and its frequent recourse to military action to defend itself is then magnified and manipulated by malign and much less naïve actors to skewer the Jewish state.

On this particular trip I also encountered a growing proclivity to take refuge in a false, manufactured dichotomy between “good old Judaism” and “bad new Zionism.”

The ancient Jewish faith is something to be admired and commemorated, you see.

Jewish heritage is hip and Jewish history is interesting – all across Europe. (Perhaps this is the European way of awkwardly atoning for centuries of persecution of Jews).

But modern-day Jewish nationalism as expressed in the powerful State of Israel is a sin. Israel is a sinful country committing criminal acts against its neighbors and even against Judaism itself – I was told.

Only Palestinian statehood can redeem Israel’s rotten record, it would seem – even though there is no basis to believe that such a state will be anything other than one more failed, fractured and violent Arab country – perhaps radically Islamist – at war with Israel and its other neighbors.

Without admitting it, people speaking this way are deeply anti-Semitic in effect. The Jew they (claim to) like and (very belatedly) admire is a weak, cerebral Jew; a Diaspora Jew whose Talmudic literature is all-of-a-sudden filled with wisdom, and whose art and poetry is unexpectedly so very 21st century cultural.

But then there is the Jew they love to hate; the mighty and brawny Zionist Jew that wields the most formidable army in the Middle East and whose economy to just too damn overwhelming. That Jew is just too robust and zealous. Too vicious and potent.

That Jew needs to be cut down to size.

Beyond all the usual pro-Israel talking points and debate tactics with which I am well familiar, I found on this trip that there were five key strategies that had some impact on my interlocutors.

First, don’t play the victimhood game. People out there don’t care, alas, how many acres of fine Israeli agriculture have been burned by Palestinian incendiary kites, or how many Israeli women and children have been murdered by Hamas suicide bombers, or how many missiles Iran is giving Hezbollah to fire into Israel.

The recounting of Arab atrocities, no matter how egregious, doesn’t wash. European liberals simply don’t see Israel as the underdog.

Second, history matters. The Six Day War was not an act of Israeli aggression, but a defensive war, and the Arab side lost fair and square. There never was a Palestinian state. Settlements are not colonialist outposts but express a Jewish “right of return” to ancestral lands. Israel placed three full-scale peace proposals on the table over the past 15 years involving Palestinian independence and almost-complete West Bank dominion – yet Abbas rejected all offers and preferred to fight on.

Few care much about this history, but it needs to be restated because it isn’t known and it goes to the core of Israel’s case.

Third, you have to emphasize, over and over again, that Israel seeks conflict resolution, not jihad; that Israel wants to resolve conflicts through compromise, not end conflicts by annihilation of the enemy. Say that Israel wishes to live at peace and cooperate with its neighbors, not to conquer Arabic and Islamic nations from Tunisia to Indonesia.

No matter how ridiculously self-evident this seems, the repetition of this truth is extraordinarily important. It isn’t obvious to many Europeans.

Fourth, it is simply not enough to explain Israel’s security dilemmas or revisit Israel’s diplomatic generosity toward the Palestinians.

What’s needed is a much more basic restatement of Israel’s cause and purpose: Israel as a grand historic reunion of people and land, and as a just and moral actor in the medieval and violent Arab Middle East. Israel wins when you speak about justice and the Jewish nation.

Fifth, and most important of all, don’t be embarrassed by Israel’s strength. Admit to it.

Flaunt it.

As counterintuitive as this may seem, especially in contrast to the “outstretched hand for peace” narrative described in a previous paragraph, never apologize for using “disproportionate” force. Instead, articulate the reasons why and the circumstances under which Israel must use force to defend its homeland, and don’t be shy about it.

Largely, this means sharing Israel’s dilemmas with your audience. It’s okay to agonize a bit over the need to be a ferocious military power. Dwelling on this is truly Israeli and it is humanizing. But never ask for forgiveness or suggest that Israel will pull its punches just to win a nice guy award.

I have found that forthright, unashamed talk has salutary impact. Without being nasty or unfeeling regarding our adversaries, one can convey a deep sense of sincerity and believability by verbalizing Israeli redlines and enunciating core Zionist commitments.

People are forced to respect that, even if they won’t impute to you awe-inspiring humanity.

Better shock-and-awe than shrink-and whimper.

Grudgingly, even Europeans come to see that you have a point; a perspective that might be tough and gruff, but that also might be reasonable under the circumstances.

The UN organisation UNRWA is supposed to assist the Palestinians, but instead is a self perpetuating organisation that employs many people, with senior staff on high salaries. Because of this, it ferments the conflict in order to continue to exist. It urgently needs to be closed down by the UN or funds withdrawn by its backers. Only then can peace negotiations begin. As long as UNRWA exists there will be no peace.

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Anonymous,
June 26, 2018 8:44 PM

Israel advocacy training needs to be available to the Jewish community in NJ

Why is it so hard to find Israel advocacy training programs even in northern New Jersey ?
I have many Arab coworkers and honestly in not always sure how to answer their questions on this topic and if you didnt attend camp Ramah and go to Jewish day school, and get connected to by nomination only Jewish leadership fellowship programs , then theres no answer to Palestinian claims. This training needs to be available to all who are interested

(10)
Anonymous,
June 22, 2018 2:04 PM

The absurdity of it

People today have a very short memory or no memory at all. How many times has the question been asked, "why did the Jews go to the gas chambers like sheep without fighting back? Although there were many uprisings, and many attempts to sabotage the Nazis, they still murdered 6,000,000 Jews, including 1.5. children. It is patently absurd for people today to refer to the military strength of Israel, as Goliath, or the 'big bad wolf or other such ridiculous misnomers. Precisely because of the Holocaust, Israel has to have the strongest military it can, so that nothing remotely resembling the Holocaust will ever happen again. To make the IDF the perpetrator of all that happens in the world is the same as rewriting history. Unfortunately, revisionist history books are what most people are reading and believing.

(9)
Valmai June Smith,
June 21, 2018 11:09 PM

This very good summary about the facts of Israel's battle against the people of Gaza and it can be said the world,it is absolute TRUTH. ISRAEL actually stands for everything that could mean harmony ,peace and so much more. BUT there is an underlaying world attitude that is black in its terribleness and implacable in its hatred and that is world domination and a One world GOVT. Israel is the one Nation that stops such a takeover and the day is coming when the whole world will be SO grateful for Israel's stand against this domination. But today the whole move is to wipe Israel and all Jewish people off the world map. The whole ideology is ,Let us blame Israel for all the world's problems and because the world has lost the ability to reason and see clearly, they agree with the world verdict. NOTHING could be further from the truth. ISRAEL is the only bright star in the sky at this time AND against ALL odds and every adversity and every horror story , it remains a light to those who SEE. It remains enduring and wonderfully beautiful the midst of so much hatred. SHINE ON ISRAEL. You ARE loved and a real treasure in MANY hearts

(8)
rachel shillingford,
June 21, 2018 6:40 PM

Great article!

thank you, amazing article, great points!!!

(7)
Dan,
June 21, 2018 3:19 PM

Boldness

The author hits the nail right on the head. One of the hallmarks of our people is boldness. We succeed when we manage to express it and fail when we shy away from it.

(6)
Charles L. richman,
June 18, 2018 4:01 PM

Comment continues:

Now picture Palestinian children watching TV today, being bombarded by Jihad against Israel and the Jews on a daily basis. While working in Israel in Israel, with an IDF committee (IPS) from October 2014 to January 2015 Palestinian murderers killed 5 Rabbis praying in a Har Noff Shul; driving to Gush Etzion we were stopped by Israeli Security because of an attack by Suicide-Murderer’s; two weeks later a Suicide-murderer stabbed customers in a Mishor Adumim market. My wife and I road the Light Rail in Jerusalem, twice Suicide-Murderer’s attacked Israelis waiting for a train. Where are the cries from the non-Jewish world? I spent 1990-91 conducting research on 8 kibbutzim, 2003-04 as a Visiting Professor at Hebrew University, the bus I usually took from on Hebrew University campus to the other was destroyed. The next day more than 3 blocks of Israelis stood in line at our bus stop to catch the substitute bus in defiance of the terror. And, the Hyatt hotel lobby 3 blocks from out apartment was bombed, café’s destroyed, the Hebrew University cafeteria shattered, and the world stood silent because it was the Jewish homeland being attacked. How do you combat being hated? Why are we hated? Is it: Because we are tiny in number people (17.5 million in a world of 6.2 billion people) and at the same time we are hated because too many others falsely assume we 17.5 million Jews control the world’s 6.2 billion people? Or is it because we are seen as the Chosen People? Yes, we chose the HOLY TORAH and that is what chosen means. Yes friends Israel is a Jewish nation that welcomes and supports peoples of all religions to live and practice their own religions, and to prosper. Anti-Jewish attitudes, has been a part of our world for more than 3,300 years. It is a disease that cultures, yes, even cultures people admire are plagued by anti-Jewish attitudes and actions. We must stand together to combat those who wish harm Eretz Yisrael. Am Yisrael Chai

(5)
charles L. richman,
June 18, 2018 3:50 PM

Am Yisrael Chai

In 1948 Israel formed a government and a few weeks later Israel was attacked by Arab nations; in 1956 Egypt sent tanks and foot soldiers across the Sinai to destroy the new State of Israel and Israel defeated them. In 1967 Israel was attacked by 5-Arab nations and Israel defeated them. In1967 Israel found that outposts were required to protect the interior, i.e., it was 1967 that Settlements were established. In 2006 Israel disbanded 22 Settlements, Gush Katif. Hamas a terrorist now lead Gaza, and in the next 8 years 10,700 rockets were launched into Israel, terror tunnels were built from Gaza to Israel, and suicide murders increased killing Israels. On 11 March 2011 in Itamar, Israel, two PFLP cousins entered the Fogel’s home, and slit the Fogel’s throats, then committed the same atrocious acts on 11 year old Yoav and 4 year old Elad and then decapitated 3 month old Hadas. These two murderers showed no remorse for their actions and proudly confessed committing these heinous acts. Then candy was given to children in many West Bank town squares, cheering erupted to celebrate the horror. Soccer fields, playgrounds, parks, and city squares in Judea & Samaria have been named after these murderers. Picture a public bus (Egged bus) picking up passengers and traveling in Jerusalem, create an image of a terrorist as he/she detonates an explosive device on the bus and picture grandmothers, grandfathers, fathers & mothers holding their young children, sons and daughters being scrapped off the streets & walls. In Kiryat Shmona 10 adults and 8 children were gunned down. I leave the few instances of many with one more image. Visualize Ma’a lot, Israel 13 miles east of Naharia. The DFLP terrorist merchants took 105 Jewish children hostage and killed 22 and seriously wounded 68 with automatic gunfire.

(4)
Anonymous,
June 15, 2018 6:11 PM

Can't do it anymore.

Last month I attended a lecture by Miko Peled, author of The General's Son.
Tears were streaming and it was painful, as has been many of my experiences the last year as I began to delve deeper into some hard truths about Israel that I was never told.
Miko Peled is the son of an Israeli general, his niece was killed in a hamas suicide attack. With courage and strength he addresses the issue of the occupation.
Breaking the Silence is a group of IDF soldiers who share their experiences, again with courage in the face of hatred from other Jews, and soldiers who try to deny them their voice.
Ahed Tamimi is a Palestinian teen who lost many loved ones, and she represents teens who live under military occupation, daily harassment, raids, checkpoints, settler violence, and yet she is deemed "dangerous" for wanting just one day of freedom in her entire years on the planet.
I grew up in an orthodox family, Shomer Shabbos, and Zionism was very controversial.
I have been receiving emails from Jewish Voice for Peace, and JStreet.
While I still care about Israel as s Jew, I will not any longer defend them, with blind faith.
I am heartbroken over what I am learning.

Anonymous,
June 15, 2018 9:03 PM

To commenter #4 Anonymous

Re: The teen who lives under military occupation. Do you really believe in your heart of hearts that this is what Israelis WANT? Re: Defending Israel with blind faith. I'm not sure the author is asking you to do that. I think the author is asking all of us to wake up and realize that yes, anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism certainly are linked together.

SteveT,
June 21, 2018 3:11 PM

The other side

Have you attended lectures by Alan Dershowitz, the so-called Prince of Hamas, Honest Reporting, or any other person or group that will give you another point of view? Have you looked into how Breaking the Silence gets its reports? (Hint: anonymously) Have you asked yourself why Breaking the Silence feels the need to go public rather than report to the IDF for investigation? Have you researched Ahmed Tamimi's family and her own history? In short, have you taken the trouble to listen to the other side, rather than accept all the accusations levelled against Israel by those who hate her?

(3)
Neria,
June 15, 2018 3:59 PM

Thank you

Thank you so much for clearly summarizing relevant points to articulate when defending Israel here in Europe. Yes, Europe is sleeping. I deeply appreciate your intelligent debate points for us to wake up the European liberal dreaming and denial.Shabbat Shalom

(2)
Natan,
June 13, 2018 2:45 PM

Sorry, you've got it wrong

There is only one sentence to say in response to challenges about Israel from goyim: "I/we/Israel do NOT owe YOU an explanation".We really don't, and the goyim will respect such a response.We need to stop apologizing/explaining - it only makes us "look guilty", when we're not. That is the reality, whether we like it or not.

Shelly,
June 21, 2018 4:50 PM

Well Said!

Natan, you expressed my thoughts exactly. We need not apologize for living and existing. An Yisrael Chai !!!??

(1)
Regina,
June 10, 2018 3:27 PM

Well said

Thanks for sharing your observations and experience that serve to hone an effective response to the epidemic of 'misperception'. I have always cringed whenever I heard the Israeli government respond to the screams of the international community re use of "excess force" or some other accusation; we shouldn't be apologizing for ANYTHING. No one ever stops to think that, if Israel wanted to kill palestinian civilians,the army could level Gaza within a few hours. No other country would demonstrate this kind of concern for human life when its citizens lives could be at stake - and it's about time the international community starts laying the blame where it belongs: at the feet of the hamas murderers. May HASHEM Protect our people and our country.AM YISROEL CHAI!!